Question:

> Dear Teresa, > To all: >         I would first like to respond to the natural protective > instinct. I have had a three month dog trainers course. There is no such > thing as a naturally protective instinct because it is developed through > training whether it be a subtle no and ok or from real protection > training.

Of course there’s a natural protective instinct.   Wolves have it.  Dogs have it. People have it.  Individuals of all species vary in the levels they show.  Yes, it can be modified.  Yes it can be heightened.  Yes it can be developed.  Certain breeds show it more than certain other breeds.  Individuals within breeds vary greatly in the amount of instinct and propensity they show for protection. It’s pretty simple, really. Tell your instructor to come online for a three month course about dog behavior. The DGS Reporting Live from the SuperDog Station http://dogtv.com

Response:

Just to add to the last post, if no dog has a protective instinct and it has to be developed through training, than why temperment test dogs when selecting working dogs.  Could it be some show more of an instinct than others? Just a thought… Todd Gaster Gaster’s Canine Behavioral Center – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Dear Teresa, > To all: >         I would first like to respond to the natural protective > instinct. I have had a three month dog trainers course. There is no such > thing as a naturally protective instinct because it is developed through > training whether it be a subtle no and ok or from real protection > training. >Of course there’s a natural protective instinct.   Wolves >have it.  Dogs have it. People have it.  Individuals of all >species vary in the levels they show.  Yes, it can be >modified.  Yes it can be heightened.  Yes it can be >developed.  Certain breeds show it more than certain other >breeds.  Individuals within breeds vary greatly in the >amount of instinct and propensity they show for protection. >It’s pretty simple, really. >Tell your instructor to come online for a three month course >about dog behavior. >The DGS >Reporting Live from the SuperDog Station >http://dogtv.com

Response:

Dear Teresa,         Hi, my name is Vanetta. I have had a three month dog trainers course where I learned a great deal about dog behavior. I am one who defiantly knows what you mean about your dog not being protective enough. But, maybe people responded the way they did because you put ‘protective’ instead of ‘watchdog’ which is not as serious as a protection dog. I think many people look at the word protective and also apply it to an attack dog too, which is really bad because there are different levels of a protection dog other than the attack type. The watchdog is generally thought of as a dog that barks at danger or suspicious people, which sounds like what you really want. Actually an attack dog isn’t a true protection dog which is a whole other thing that may confuse you so I won’t get into it.         There is nothing wrong with having a protection dog outside. Yet, the best protection would be achieved if the dog was in the house but it’s not a requirement for a protection dog or watchdog. I have two dogs, a male yellow lab and gsd mix, which I strictly keep outside and they are great watchdogs.         As far as correcting her for barking you are teach what you want her to bark at and not. By doing this she’ll eventually get the idea of what you want her to alarm you about and not. However, praise her both verbally and petting her when she does do it at the correct time to encourage her correct behavior.         Have you had any aggressive problems with her? If not then probably having her loose in the country is not going to a problem. Most people dislike the idea of having a dog loose no matter where it is but I understand the need for the dog to be loose in the country. My concern would be nature and the dog’s safety. It would be best to keep her nearby the house or the dog may not be a good watchdog if it’s off a 1/2 mile or so away from the house. You didn’t tell just how much acreage you have, which is why I made this statement.         Yes, you are right that just the size of a dog isn’t always enough to deter someone from trying to steal something. You could even set up a situation for your dog to respond to a person who hasn’t been around her much or not at all. For example: Your expecting someone to come visit you. So, then be ready to go "Who is that?" and act concerned about the person being there. After repeating several "Who is it?", or "Who is that?", this should cause her to bark and praise her when she responds with a bark. Once you have seen who it is then you can say "Friend. Be quiet." I’ll be more than happy to give you more advice if needed or if you have trouble understanding what I have told you. I will also post something at rec.pets.dogs.breeds regarding this issue. I sent some of this to Dav also.                 Sincerely,                         Vanetta P.S. I tried to send this to you by your E-mail address but it wouldn’t go through. I sent it rec.pets.dogs.breeds under your post. I wasn’t sure you would find it, so I did this too. The following is what I posted at rec.pets.dogs.breeds. However I need clarify some things which I didn’t and should have due to the nature of some of the responses I received. So, look for my Protection Dogs post. To all:         I would first like to respond to the natural protective instinct. I have had a three month dog trainers course. There is no such thing as a naturally protective instinct because it is developed through training whether it be a subtle no and ok or from real protection training.         Dogs do smell fear pheromones but this is not enough. The dog still needs the proper training to know how to behave toward this smell. Some dogs may respond well but others will not and will need guidance through training. What I am saying applies to any and every dog.         When someone says protection dog it could mean just a dog that barks at suspicious situations, or a more advanced bark with also continuous bark right in front of the person or a dog that pens a person without a bite but with just body contact. Just because someone says protection dog doesn’t mean it bites. Even if the dog has been trained to bite, a well trained protection dog will only bite under the most serious situations where it is most need. Another fact is that a well trained protection dog isn’t taught the bite command but rather the situation when to bite. A true protection dog is not an attack dog! Attack dogs are dogs that attack without any provocation at all and will attack anything and everything that crosses their path and will bite the person anywhere, unlike a protection dog where they are trained to go to arm or leg in a provocating situation. Protection dogs are also trained to not bite children bothering them. Most importantly the protection dog is trained to immediately respond to the release command for a bite and even when the dog is in the pursuit to bite.                 Vanetta – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs.breeds > Thanks for answering my question on my Rott pup.  I know it is hard to > get a very clear picture of what’s going on with the little info I’m > able to give you here but I’ll try.    People seem to think I’m crazy > when I say that I’m concerned about her not being "protective" enough. > I don’t care what anyone says they about how they know the difference > and will know if there really is a danger.  The last rott I had let > someone walk in my house at night (I knew them but the dog didn’t) I > didn’t hear them come in because I was doing dishes and when I turned > around and saw them I SCREAMED!  My dog just wagged her tail.  I want > this pup to at least bark, if nothing else, and I’m afraid if I always > correct her for barking at someone she never will because she will > believe this is unacceptable.  I live out of town and we have a huge > migrant population in our area.  We have REAL problems with homes being > broken into and things being stolen not to mention the other things > that go on.  People who have dogs do not have the problems as people > who do not have dogs.  One of the replies I got said to leave her in > the house when I’m gone.  Well first of all I can’t afford new > furniture after she eats my couch and secondly it defeats my purpose of > having her to begin with.  I’m fortunate enough to live in the country > so my dogs have always had the luxury of being loose and I have NEVER > had any problems.  I spend a lot of time at home alone and I also go > camping by myself and things like that, in the past all my dogs have > been overly friendly to everyone.  They look like the Wal-Mart > greeters!  If I wanted another dog like that I would have gotten a > border collie!  I just want a dog that will let me know if someone is > in the yard at night and since I take her with me in my truck a lot I > would like to think that she would not let everyone reach in and steal > things if I leave it unattended for a few minutes.  I realize that her > presence alone is going to be a huge deterrent but that’s not always > enough. > Okay, now, do you have any other suggestions for me.  Any help would be > welcome.

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